Securis

Securis is a holding page for miscellaneous ideas.

Overview
Darkstorm takes place on Arginium, a distant continent of the greater world of Preax Ethor. The current year is 2995 of the Common Era (CE). Also commonly referred to as "the Continent", it encompasses 9.81 million square miles, and is a varied mix of plains, forests, valleys, hills, and mountains. There are some desert areas in the southenrmost regions, and some tundra and ice fields in the northernmost regions. The majority of the Continent is temperate and experiences all four seasons. As of current year, the estimated population is 39.4 million. The Empire controls 71% of the land area of the continent and nearly 80% of its population.

Cedorene Empire
The Empire is an enlightened, absolute monarchy that rules over nearly three-quarters of all Arginium. At its pinnacle is the House of Neador, which has reigned over the continent for nearly 900 years.

Government
The Emperor (or Empress) is a hereditary monarch who holds absolute authority over its affairs. The heir apparent of the Sovereign is the Prince (or Princess) Imperial. The power of the House of Neador is symbolized by the Sapphire Throne, a relic of the age of the Precursors, crafted by them and upon which their own Archons sat in rule over the land in antiquity. It is located within the Hall of Banners of the White Palace in the city of Leesoft, capital of the Empire and cultural and spiritual hub of human - and by its extension, Imperial - civilization.

The Privy Council is a circle of officials who both advise the Sovereign and administer Imperial affairs. These individuals are considered the Sovereign's most senior counselors. Each takes the directives of the Sovereign and formulates relevant policy within their area of responsibility and is understood to speak with the authority of their Imperial mistress, requiring the obedience of their subordinates. These officers include -


 * The First Minister, who manages the bureaucracy and is the Crown's principal adviser.
 * The Minister of Protocol, who coordinates Imperial ambassadors to other lands, manages the business of the Imperial Court, and arranges hospitality for visiting dignitaries.
 * The Minister of War, who handles appointments, promotions and demotions of military officers, maintenance of military installations and supply, and the courier system. Their two immediate subordinates are the Lord High Admiral, who is over the Imperial Navy, and the Marshal of the Armies, who is over the Imperial Army.
 * The Minister of Revenue, who is responsible for tax collections, management of government finances, and the decennial census.
 * The Minister of Justice, who oversees the Imperial courts, magistrates, prisons and asylums.
 * The Minister of Agriculture, who oversees and the gathering of resources (food and raw materials) from the countryside.
 * The Minister of Works, who oversees Imperial construction projects, manufacturing government equipment, maintenance of roads and canals, and the standardisation of weights and measures.

Imperial territory is divided into 31 provinces, which are administered directly by a noble who holds the title of governor. This official answers directly to the Sovereign via the Chancellery and the Secretary Imperial. Individual municipalities (villages, towns, and cities) are led by a mayor and council of burgesses, who are elected by the local populace. They, in turn, give regular reports to the governor on important matters and likewise communicate any needs or concerns they may have.

The judicial system of the Empire consists of two types of courts - the court of sessions and the court of commons. The former are chaired by magistrates, who hear the most serious cases and also hear appeals on judgments from the court of commons. The latter are chaired by commissioners of the peace, who handle primarily minor offences which are dealt with summarily. While magistrates can only be found in the major cities and large towns, commissioners of the peace are in every settlement regardless of size. Both of these officers represent the legal system of the Empire to its citizenry. All such officers answer to the Sovereign via the Minister of Justice. Punishment within the Empire ranges from monetary fines for minor offences to imprisonment for more serious ones and even death for the most heinous acts.

Cities
Leesoft, Portsgrave, Eastgate, Basinford, Winvale, Millpost, Highcross, Roseminster, Stillwick, Ormindy Do, Bellucente

Provinces
Aclesh, Aglar, Dacla, Drevanna, Strole, Eswana, Achor, Efristan, Oplaea, Gistrium, Jalesh, Patral, Seswea, Tagrana, Thei Chea, Worlmarch, Aebunem, Zelia, Prolum, Ravaria, Sipis, Eslerene, Ostinaweth, Haimore, Valadaria, Qaldobyt, Apria, Obla, Oplaria, Pleicia, Opria, Ste Cria

Social Structure

 * Imperial Family
 * Nobility (dukes and duchesses, earls and countesses, barons and baronesses)
 * Clergy (curate, prelates, lectors)
 * Gentlemen/Gentlewomen (knights and dames)
 * Craftsmen/Tradesmen (merchants and skilled craftworkers)
 * Commoners

Living People

 * Juliora, Empress
 * played by Helen Mirren
 * Hillan, Prince of Beverstone
 * played by Josh Dallas
 * older brother of Rhodan
 * Rhodan, Prince of Waydon
 * played by Tom Hopper
 * younger brother of Hillan
 * Polbier Levri, Lord Chamberlain
 * played by
 * Kethris Halded, Lord Steward
 * played by
 * Lenseph Demose, Earl Winvale, First Minister of the Empire
 * played by Charles Dance
 * Rhalad Stuvzumro, Earl Gatterglen, Minister of Protocol
 * played by
 * Orilana Thel-Zohef, Baroness Blackstone, Minister of Revenue
 * played by
 * Eller Rosewarne, Baron Threadmore, Minister of Justice
 * played by
 * Damveda Totrelmi, Countess Stillwick, Minister of War
 * played by
 * Stemeth Cannei, Baron Bumpf, Minister of Agriculture
 * played by TBD
 * TBD, Baron Bumpf, Minister of Works
 * played by TBD
 * Dame Jespara Telmavi, Lord High Admiral
 * played by
 * Sir Raldec Hithern, Marshal of the Armies
 * played by
 * Sir Thechem Baldrizek, Knight of the Scarlet Banner
 * played by Eddie Guinn
 * Hee Mirthbasher
 * played by TBD
 * Dercien Rodel, Knight of the Silver Circle, Principal Secretary to the Empress
 * played by Alex Lord
 * TBD
 * played by TBD
 * Dame Iliene Dreilo, Director of the Bureau of Statistics
 * played by Imelda Staunton

Historical People

 * Sarovia Neador, Founder of the Empire, first Empress
 * played by Tilda Swinton
 * Orngild Luros-Neador, husband of Sarovia
 * played by Tobias Menzies

Circle Celestial

 * type - polytheistic
 * god(s) - The Twelve
 * ranks - lector, prelate, curate

The Circle Celestial is the most important religious order in all of Arginium. At its heart are the Twelve, whose power shaped and sustains the universe, which they brought order to. They are transcendent, completely outside of and beyond the world and beyond the comprehension of mortals. They have "no beginning and no end, existed before the void and the silence, before the primordial chaos, dwelling in incomparable light in the halls of Aesenium, which no being can approach." They seldom involve themselves directly in the affairs of the mortal world, instead choosing to act through a circle of angelic servants known as the Intercessors. It is believed, though, that there are rare occasions where the Twelve will reach out to specific mortals when certain events must unfold. Those who have experienced these visions describe "being in a setting familiar to them, where they encounter what appear to be twelve ordinary people, but whose presence was anything but ordinary, speaking in a detached manner". In every such instance, the Twelve always refer to themselves as "we".

The faith teaches mortals to live a just and honourable life, demonstrate kindness to the less fortunate, respect the land and creatures in it, and avoid vice and wickedness. Those who do so are granted eternal rest after death, and taken into the paradise of the Aesenium, the realm where the Twelve dwell. Those whose lives have been filled with cruelty, corruption, falsehood or malice, those who have abused the less fortunate, and those who have given their lives over to depravity are condemned to eternal misery in Eaphunara. This cold, grim place exists distant from the Gods, who no longer acknowledge those who dwell there, and where eternal punishment befits the deeds of each mortal's life. The faith reminds its adherents that all living things eventually die, and that ultimately every mortal soul will face divine judgment.

Numerous common implements are found across the continent that adherents use as part of their traditions, rituals, and daily spiritual practices. These include a short loop of prayer beads, aromatic votive candles of amber and red wax, icon statuettes representative of the Twelve, and prayer shrines found in homes and temples. The votive candles used are always amber or red, made of beeswax mixed with paraffin. The amber candles are infused with sandalwood oil, and the red candles with allspice oil. Prayer beads can be made of a variety of materials, including glass, amethyst, rose quartz stone, crystal, black onyx, lavender glass or pearl. Faithful will recite various prayers, asking blessings on the person, their family, their community, and others. It is common for a believer to loop the beads around their wrist like a bracelet, unwinding them when they wish to pray.

Within the Empire, the religion is inculcated in the rites and teachings of the Church Imperial, which has its seat in the Grand Basilica in the Standon Gardens district of Leesoft, the capital of the Empire. The leader of the Church is a priest known as the Curate, who is assisted in their leadership by the Prelate Assembly, a body composed of some of the most senior prelates, who collectively decide important issues and choose a new Curate upon the passing of the incumbent. Clergy of the Church are known as prelates. They seek training and education from one of several clerical orders which operate across the continent, with the ultimate goal of attaining ordination. Not everyone who seeks ordination achieves it, as the curriculum is extensive, demanding, and requires considerable mental acuity. Training is a combination of regular prayer, meditation, observation and practice of ritual, and the reading of the sacred texts. These are required and expected of all who aspire to join the clergy. Prelates are recognized by their brown robes.

The Gods have spoken. All blessings on the new Curate! The three keys to enlightenment are charity, humility, and faith. The Gods have seen your coming, traveler. It was not curiosity, but fate, that has led you here. Walk blessed! May your road always be even. May you walk with the Gods.

The Twelve are -
 * Anmos, god of order, justice and time +
 * Chief of the Twelve, the High One
 * Vedea, goddess of knowledge and magic +
 * Mother of Dragons, Patroness of Arcanists
 * Sannia, goddess of healing, medicine and mercy +
 * Mother of Mercies, Great Healer, Mistress of the Apothecary
 * Rhydon, god of strength, valour and war +
 * Warrior God, Lord of Valour
 * Oros, god of death and change
 * TBD, god of community and revelry
 * TBD, goddess of hearth and family
 * Taios, god of mysteries and secrets
 * Ihlan, goddess of the arts, beauty and love
 * TBD, god of the seas and weather
 * Miuna, goddess of the harvest and nature
 * TBD, goddess of industry, good fortune and commerce

Sacred Flame

 * type - polytheistic
 * god(s) - Thundering One
 * ranks - priest

The scattered followers of this mysterious faith worship a group of deities known as the Thundering Ones, divine entities who is said to have shaped the lands of the continent through sheer force of will, “accompanied by the great thunders of creation itself”. It was originally established as the result of a schism in the Chancel of the Twelve more than four centuries ago by a group who believed that the faith lacked in militancy, and that the true glory of the Twelve had been hidden from the people by a long-standing practise of portraying them as "benevolent, protective gods whose wrath is only intermittently displayed" and that such views "diluted the fear and reverence their divine majesty deserved. While it is believed the Thundering Ones very rarely directly intervenes in mortal affairs, they are said to see and know all, and their favour (or lack thereof) determines the ultimate fate of their followers.  The religion is described as highly militant, and has a tendency to react very poorly towards emissaries of other faiths.  Imperial policy towards the faith is nuanced; by and large, the Empire leaves them alone as long as they do not cause trouble, but particularly violent sects of the Sacred Flame have been forcibly suppressed on three different occasions since the religion was established.

Enta Ivasaar

 * type - polytheistic
 * god(s) - Divine Court
 * ranks - priest, high priest

Enta Ivasaar, also known as "the Way of the Ancestors", is the ancient religion of the Elves centered around the remembrance and worship of their ancestors. Every family honours and remembers their own predecessors, while all maintain special reverence for the respected philosophers, military leaders, and healers among their society, among others. The religion teaches that the Ancestors, watching over them from the afterlife, protect their society and their people, offering subtle guidance in the form of various signs or portents, as well as by acting on the conscience of the believer. Simultaneously, the Ancestors are believed to intercede on their behalf to the Divine Court, as the small pantheon of nameless elven deities are known. Followers begin and end each day with a meditation known as Avirinza, which is fifteen minutes of silent communion with the Ancestors. The holiest elven holiday is the Remembrance Festival, which occurs at the end of midsummer every year. On its last day, known as All Spirits Day, the high priest at the Temple of the Sacred Rites in Ormindy Do burns incense and reads the names of the honoured dead from the Scroll of Memory.

Gholorz Garan'du

 * type - polytheistic
 * god(s) - The Gholorz - Sazotz (death), Uthos (fortune), Khaorr (war)
 * ranks - n/a

Gholorz Garan’du, also known as “House of the Gods”, is the original faith of the Orcs, centered around the reverence of a trinity of gods, also known as the Gholorz, who represent death (Sazotz), fortune (Uthos), and war (Khaorr). It is believed by orcs that these three deities are in a constant struggle for supremacy over orcish society, and that the prayers and offerings of individual orcs to them sustain this struggle, which symbolizes the struggle of life and the three parts of it considered most important to every orc - battle against one's foes, prosperity and fortune as a result of successful effort, and inevitably death, which comes for every orc. The religion maintains no priests or temples, as adherence to the faith is the duty of every individual orc. It likewise has no formal texts, as all beliefs and practises are passed on via oral tradition. The closest thing to clergy within the faith are the lorekeepers, elder orcs whose purpose in society is to maintain the knowledge of their beliefs and pass it on to younger orcs who seek to likewise preserve the faith.

Magic
Magick is a term that refers to the mystical abilities given to those who can naturally sense the arcane energies of the world and manipulate said energies for a variety of purposes. These energies, when channeled in specific ways, are wielded to a wide array of purposes.

Practitioners
Those capable of wielding Magick - known as "having the Gift" - are born and cannot be "made". The arts of practicing Magick are also known as spellcraft. The Gift of magick is one that only the Divine can bestow upon a person. How they determine who is born with this talent is unknown, and simply because a child is born to parents who both wield magick is no guarantee they will likewise be so talented. On average, one in one thousand mortal children is born with the Gift. The only exception to this is orcs - one in ten thousand is born with arcane talent.

Wielders of Magick are known as arcanists or incanters. Other titles and honorifics exist for accomplished arcanists. Self-taught arcanists are referred to as hedge casters, a term of derision among proper arcanists. In modern times, Imperial law requires that all arcanists receive their training from, and be members in good standing of, the Incantrium.

The Immutable Sanction - a ritual that would sever all connections between Arginium and the Ambience, permanently removing all magical powers from the land.

Unbinding
At some point in their youth, a child with this natural talent will have their power physically manifest. Reports vary as to the manner in which this manifestation takes place - a burst of energy knocks every nearby loose object to the floor, or said loose objects start floating in midair suddenly, and so forth. This event is known as an "Unbinding" and signals that the child's powers have awakened. The unique energy signature this event creates is sensed by nearby arcanists who will locate and identify the child, that they may approach the family and discuss their prospective future.

Training
Newly inducted arcanists are known as apprentices, fresh to the magick traditions of the world and only just starting their arcane journey. They have been accepted for membership after experiencing their Unbinding and completing a series of initiatory trials. They will spend ten years in this rank, attending a range of classes and hands on lessons to learn their craft and hone their skills. Also, during this period, simultaneous with their various tests and challenges, they will also perform a range of tasks from assisting with cleaning and cooking to gathering herbs and alchemical ingredients, as part of being taught the importance of patience, discipline, and focus, traits anyone who would learn the arcane arts must possess.

Journeypersons are arcanists who complete their apprenticeship and pass the First Seal trials. Those of this rank make up the vast majority of arcanists. While they may not be as powerful as adept arcanists, they are nevertheless accomplished and competent arcanists, and are more than capable of handling a vast array of tasks and situations. Whenever arcanists are called upon to assist with a situation by the authorities or private organizations, these are the people most often sent.

Adepts are those journeypersons who have passed the demanding and dangerous Second Seal trials. These arcanists are highly accomplished and skilled and are powerful emissaries of the Incantrium and the arcane arts. Only 1 in 100 journeymen will ever attain this rank. Arcanists of this rank are sent to investigate and address the most critical - and potentially sensitive - situations. Likewise, they are the teachers and mentors of all younger, less experienced arcanists, and see to their training.

Ambience
The Ambience is the name by which the magical currents of Arginium are known. These energies suffuse the mortal plane and allow the wielding of magick. Those who are able to sense and manipulate these energies have "the Gift". The energies of the Ambience present to those with the gift for spellcraft in different ways - some see unusual colors, some hear a soft humming, some see "ripples" in the air which no other can - but all draw upon it and its energies flow in response to their manipulations.

These natural flows manifest occasionally in the form of mana wells - points where the flows have burst to the surface and appear as shimmering bodies of bluish-white energy that behave as water would. Of these, the most famous is the Celestial Font, which is hidden within a maze of caverns underneath Capvering Hold, the headquarters of the Incantrium. The most infamous, by far, is the Howling Well, a shattered mana well located deep inside the ruins of the ancient elven city of Vrucciaven.

Source?
It comes from the ancient giants, who beat back the primordial chaos, and wove magic out of their own essence, sacrificing themselves to create a great matrices of power spanning creation, holding back chaos. This is the Weave, the underlying structure of reality that mages manipulate when they cast their spells.

Wild mages, servants of chaos, draw from the gaps between the threads of the Weave. Attempt to widen them. They have seen the primordial chaos, found it to be a state of constant change, beautiful and joyous, and resent the giants for forcing Law onto the world, because with Law came suffering, which is the price of individuality, something that could not exist in the Chaos, where thoughts and identity constantly shifted and melted into one another. Their powers disrupt true magic, but have understandably unreliable results.

Black Codex
An arcane tome that legends claim the Precursors themselves created, its pages supposedly list every word of power in existence. History is unclear on where the legends of the Codex first originated, though surviving documents from the Delthoridan Era have been found that make mentions of it. Arcanists throughout the ages have made various attempts to piece together clues as to whether or not it exists, and if so, where it is, but nobody has ever succeeded (that is known). Arcanists are split on whether or not such a book could even exist. A general consensus does say, however, that the use of such a book would be extremely dangerous for even the most experienced magicians, as having access to such a compendium of raw arcane power could easily drive anyone incurably insane.

Black Fleet
Believed to have been either a pirate fleet or raiders, this infamous force appeared in the aftermath of the collapse of Delthoridan. Its origins are unknown, though it always appeared from the western Great Sea and returned that way after its attacks. While no definitive description has ever been given of the crews manning the ships, the Fleet would mainly attack towns and villages along the Golden Coast or the Shimmering Coast. The Fleet's final appearance came with an attack on the city of Goldwater, in which many innocents died. As they were raiding the young city, they forced their way into a temple where they were confronted by a prelate who warned them, "Your wicked depravities will be bent to the service of those who you would wrong. You will find no peace, you will be denied the afterlife...the Gods will bind you to a service from which you shall find no respite, until your wrongs have been redeemed." After they had killed the priest and finished their plundering, they returned to their ships, but instead of continuing on their raids as was normal, they returned across the sea. Legend has it that an enchanted staff, said to have belonged to the prelate they killed, is capable of summoning the Fleet to the service of its wielder, but the whereabouts of the staff are unknown.

Howling Well
The infamous broken mana well located in the ruins of Vrucciaven, one of the few elven city ruins that survives to modern times. Historians believe the arcane accident which destroyed the well - and the city in the process - was the result of a dangerously powerful ritual being attempted by the house that ruled the city seeking an end to the civil war that went horribly wrong. Some say the destruction of the Well was the wrath of the Gods. Others say it was simply mortals attempting to harness too much power. Since its destruction, any magick done in the immediate area will "go wild" at random. Spells cast will backfire, or fizzle out, or end up having a completely different result. At various intervals, the energies still flowing from the Well will stir up an arcane storm that will blanket the area, and even drift into neighboring areas. These storms will cause mana poisoning to non-arcanists if they become overexposed, and can inhibit an arcanist in their ability to wield magic, as the storms can overwhelm their senses. Arcanists and ordinary folk alike are cautioned to stay away from the ruins.

Ionorath
Said to have been the greatest of the Precursor cities, its location has never been definitively identified. Legends claim it floated on the waters of the Great Sea, and was connected to the mainland by a network of magickal teleportation hubs. It is also said the city could sink beneath the waters if necessary. When the Precursors departed the world many thousands of years ago, it is believed they sent the city to the bottom of the Great Sea, and that it has sat somewhere within the Zomorah Abyssal ever since, its secrets hidden by the depths. Many claim the Dragon of the Deeps - which dwells in the Abyssal - is there solely to protect the city.

Vrucciaven
Once one of the oldest elven cities on Arginium, the crumbling remains of this ancient, shattered city, hidden in the depths of the Blackwood, were once the capital of one of its most powerful houses. It was destroyed when the mana well concealed within its central temple - the Infinite Well, now known as the Howling Well - exploded violently as the result of a dangerous arcane ritual gone horribly wrong. The ruins are both haunted by the arcane reflections of many of those killed in the accident, and plagued by wild magicks. At present date, it is against Imperial law for anyone to enter the ruins without the appropriate writ to do so. A special force of soldiers and arcanists maintain watch over the site and keep trespassers out.

Storage
Descendants of Summer - Wayfarer's Lament - Voice of the Dawn - Black Codex

Palleaon - Khadgar - my old guildie?


 * The Secretary Imperial, who manages the bureaucracy and is the Crown's principal adviser.
 * The Lord Chamberlain, who manages the Imperial Household and Sovereign's daily schedule, screening those who seek an audience.
 * The Lord Steward, who coordinates Imperial ambassadors to other lands, manages the business of the Imperial Court, and arranges hospitality for visiting dignitaries.
 * The Lord Keeper of the Treasury, who is responsible for tax collections, management of government finances, and the decennial census.
 * The High Justiciar, who oversees the Imperial courts, magistrates, prisons and asylums. Also chairs the Gold Chamber court.
 * The Lord High Admiral, who is chief officer of the Imperial Navy.
 * The Marshal of the Armies, who is chief officer of the Imperial Army.


 * Ustrad - Swaisia - Uplon - Hoplia - Aprijan - Prei Ston - Bliol Sna - Smeo Dreit - Chuf Blary - Smod Flein - Swai Prington - Claom Plana - Shub Glary - Shoac Whon - Grae Spana - Pla Smil - Sper Grax - Tro Swurg - Flo Tyre - Cleo Chax - Plop Shar - Spa Grium - Splor Blea - Gler Shye - Whu Plaria - Droq Whela - Frao Brium - Smef Strua - Snoa Pral

Overview
A high fantasy world setting.

Size
Ulun is a large continent, measuring approximately 6.8 million square miles in area. It has a maximum east-west extent of 5,700 miles and a north-south extent of 2,800 miles.

Government and politics
The TBD Empire was founded nearly six thousand years ago by Sarnovia Neador, the First Empress, widely recognised as one of the singularly most powerful arcanists in history. A trusted lieutenant of the Gods when they were still mortals, she was chosen by Their acclaim to rule the united land and bring peace, order, and prosperity to it.

Monarch
The emperor (or empress regnant) is the hereditary monarch of the land, and they rule with absolute power. They are a blood-born descendant of the House of Neador, also known simply as the Imperial House.

If the reigning sovereign is emperor, their spouse is known as the empress consort, and both are addressed as "Your Majesty" and referred to as "His/Her Majesty". If the reigning sovereign is empress regnant, their spouse is known as the prince consort. The sovereign is still addressed as "Your Majesty" and referred to as "Her Majesty", while the consort is addressed as "Your Imperial Highness" and referred to as "His Imperial Highness".

The Imperial household is overseen by the Lord Steward, who is responsible for overseeing the various related staff and services.

Privy Council
The advisory body of the monarch. It consists of the most senior officials who oversee the ministries of government as well as other members who are selected and appointed by the emperor, with a maximum of twenty seats. They serve to advise the monarch and do so until retirement or dismissal. The council is chaired by the Grand Secretary, who is the most senior government official in the realm and acts as one of the sovereign's two principal advisors.

Privy Secretariat
The body of clerks who function to provide clerical and administrative support to the monarch personally. They are led by the Privy Secretary, who is one of the sovereign's two principal advisors. This official is appointed by and answers only to the sovereign.

Grand Secretariat
The bureaucracy of the realm, consisting of the various officials who perform the administrative functions of the state. It is led by the Grand Secretary, who is the most senior bureaucrat in the realm and one of the sovereign's two principal advisors. The officials which lead the agencies of the Grand Secretariat answer to the Emperor via the Grand Secretary. At present, the government in the form of the Secretariat consists of the following agencies -


 * Foreign Office
 * Consul-General
 * War Office
 * Marshal of the Armies
 * Navy Office
 * Grand Admiral
 * Treasury
 * Treasurer-General
 * Tax Office
 * Auditor-General
 * Public Records Office
 * Master Archivist
 * Welfare Office
 * Chief Commissioner
 * Works Office
 * Master Engineer

Imperial Council
The unicameral parliament of the Empire with 185 seats. Each member represents a district of one of the provinces and is elected by the citizens of that district to a term of four years. During this time, the body meets once weekly but can be summoned by Imperial command should the need arise. Often, the advice and recommendations of the Council are used in the formation of proper law, and such is used by the monarch and their advisers in the consideration of same. Members of the Council are accorded various privileges during their term of service.

Imperial Life Guard
The Imperial person is protected at all times by the elite soldiers of the Imperial Life Guard. The force has a total strength of 1,250 personnel, the equivalent of an Army regiment. They primarily protect the Imperial Palace in Highspire and Beverstone Hall, the monarch's country residence. The force is led by the Lord Commander of the Life Guard, who is the most senior officer among its ranks and answers only to the sovereign.

The most select members of the Guard are the 24-member strong Shield of the Presence, which remains near to the Imperial person at all times and accompanies them when they move about.

Imperial Army
Ground defence of the realm is provided by the Imperial Army, which consists of numerous brigades stationed throughout the Empire. At present date, the army has a strength of 350,000 soldiers in 70 brigades.

Imperial Navy
The maritime forces of the realm, consisting of (at present) nine fleets stationed along the extensive coasts.

Currency
The currency of the land is the copper astral. While the coins have a coppery luster, they are not actually made of copper but an unknown metal whose identity is a closely guarded secret.

Exchanges
Consisting of stock lists, the

The Circle
A polytheistic faith that worships a circle of eight deities - four gods and four goddesses - known as the Circle Celestial, the Cedorene, or simply The Gods.

The Gods
The Gods were originally mortals who, acting under Divine guidance, worked to unite Ulun under a single banner after leading the resistance to Precursor tyranny. They were seen as exemplars of the best qualitied of mortal-kind and were rewarded for their devotion and efforts by being ascended to become the Guardian Gods of the world, appointed stewards over it by The One who withdrew the Intercessors to the Celestial Halls. The Circle made their presence known to the mortal races in an event known as the Great Rising. Appearing in the skies over Ulun as entities of brilliant, pure light, and speaking in a voice all could hear, they proclaimed a new beginning for the world. Naming their most trusted and loyal servant Sarnovia Galarno as the leader of the new, united realm, she rose to become the first Empress of Ulun, and her line continues to rule to modern day.

Shortly after They ascended, a constellation of eight bright stars appeared in the northern sky. It is said this is where the Celestial Halls, the Realm of the Gods, is located. In the following years, a series of prophets came to the peoples of the world to teach them the new faith and to offer guidance as the young races established themselves more firmly and further explored and settled the vast land. The Circle Celestial watches over and protects the world, transcendent from it and never appearing within it, and rarely intervening directly, preferring to work their will through intermediaries.

The deities of the Circle Celestial include:


 * The god of law and governance, patron of monarchs, lords, arbiters and other leaders, people pray to him on matters of justice, equity, leadership, authority, and government.
 * The god of knowledge and progress, patron of scholars, librarians, archivists, engineers and tinkers, people pray to him on matters of scholarship, exploration, development, and study.
 * The goddess of language and commerce, patron of writers and scribes, diplomats, tradesmen, shopkeepers and merchants, people pray to her on matters of prosperity and good fortune, fair business, travel, and news/messages.
 * The god of valour and service, patron of soldiers and sailors, peacekeepers and constables, people pray to him on matters of bravery and discipline, service and duty, hard work and war.
 * The goddess of hearth and deliverance, patron of home and family, children, the elderly, healers, midwives, and charity, people pray to her on matters of health and sickness, family well-being, safe home, and peace.
 * The god of labour and accord, patron of workers and craftsmen, artists and sculptors, musicians and actors, people pray to him on matters of inspiration and great projects, happiness of the community and cooperation among peoples.
 * The goddess of divinations and memories, recorder of the history of Creation. People pray to her on matters of outcomes of troubles and issues, preservation of the memories of family and history.
 * The goddess of fate and change, weaver of the threads of mortals' fates, who watches over them and "winds them up" when their time is done, bringing the deceased soul before the Gods for judgment. Patron of morticians and gravediggers, comforter of those grieving.

The supreme being who raised the Circle Celestial to godhood, known only as The One, dwells within the Celestial Halls alongside the Circle Celestial, but unlike Them, is unknown to the mortal races. Since the fall of the Precursors, Their existence has faded from mortal memory according to Their will.

Upon death, the Gods weigh each soul and judge it in accordance with its life and deeds. The good and kind, those who showed mercy to the weak and compassion to the less fortunate are taken to the paradise of the Timeless Groves which surround the Celestial Halls, where they dwell for eternity near to the Gods Themselves. The cruel and wicked, those who lived lives of depravity and were harsh and selfish are taken to the Ashen Wastes, a cold, lonely and miserable purgatory where they dwell forever cut off from the light of the Gods.

While mortal minds cannot fully comprehend the glory and power of the Gods, the situation is infinitely more pronounced when contemplating The One. It would be too much for the limited human mind to bear. To gaze into the face of eternity, even for a millisecond, would overload all the senses and destroy the feeble minds so exposed. We are but specks of dust in this unimaginably large universe. Just imagine how much greater the one who created it must be!

No mortal can view the excelling splendor of the Gods without being utterly overwhelmed. The glory of The One puts the pride of mortals to shame: “Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of The One and the glory of Their majesty. The lofty looks of mortals shall be humbled, the haughtiness of mortals shall be bowed down, and The One alone shall be exalted in that day.”

Church Imperial
The organisation through which the faith of the Circle is spread and maintained across the realm. It was established near-simultaneously with the Empire of which it is now an inseparable part. The Church maintains its seat in the Basilica of Tranquil Repose in the Standon Gardens district of the Imperial City of Highspire.

The clergy of the Church are known collectively as the Clerus. The leader of the Church is the Curate, who leads with considerable power but is assisted by the Synod, a body of the most senior clerics of the entire organisation. They are addressed as "Your Eminence". Prelates are those clergy who lead the great chapels of the cities and the chapels of the towns and villages. They are addressed as "Your Reverence".

Holidays
The people of Ulun celebrate various holidays throughout the year. Among them are New Years, the Festival of Flowers, Midsummer, the Festival of Lanterns, the Witches Festival, and Winterfest.

Organisations
There are various organisations in Ulun which fulfill a variety of functions or provide a wide range of services. These include the Guild of Arcanists and the Golden Crest Company.

Astrachaeus
Also known as the Mountain of the Stars and the Mountain of the Gods, this peak is the highest point in all of Ulun.

Ioturona
The largest (known) Precursor ruin, believed to have been their capital, located four weeks ride west of Highspire.

Howling Well
Once known as the Well of Silence, it was the third-largest great mana well in the world until its destruction. Its loss affected all magic in the area, and arcanists are cautioned to be careful casting spells in the area, as they can backfire dangerously. The well sometimes generates arcane storms which increase this risk.

Sea Gate
A pair of towers topped by ancient statues - four total, two back-to-back one each tower, one pair facing east, the other pair west - standing on opposite sides of the eastern mouth of the Innegar Channel. One tower is on the mainland and the other on Senja Island. While of Precursor origin, their purpose remains unknown.

Singing Shore
A portion of the Golden Coast where great standing stones, each with numerous holes in their upper halves, play a gentle, flute-like song when the winds blow a certain way.

Imperials

 * Juliora, Empress
 * played by Helen Mirren
 * Hillan of Beverstone, Prince Imperial
 * played by Josh Dallas
 * older brother of Rhodan
 * Rhodan of Waydon, Prince Imperial
 * played by Tom Hopper
 * younger brother of Hillan

Officials

 * Polbier Lord Levri, Privy Secretary
 * played by
 * Kethris Lord Halded, Lord Steward
 * played by
 * Lenseph Lord Demose, Grand Secretary
 * played by Charles Dance or Sir Patrick Stewart
 * Rhalad Lord Stuvzumro, Foreign Secretary
 * played by
 * Orilana Lady Thel-Zohef, Treasurer-General
 * played by
 * Eller Lord Rosewarne, High Justiciar
 * played by
 * Damveda Lady Totrelmi, War Secretary
 * played by
 * Stemeth Lord Cannei, Auditor-General
 * played by TBD
 * So Lord Andso, Works Secretary
 * played by TBD
 * Dame Jespara Telmavi, Admiral
 * played by
 * Sir Raldec Hithern, Lord General
 * played by
 * Sir Thechem Baldrizek, Knight of the Scarlet Banner
 * played by Eddie Guinn
 * Hee Mirthbasher
 * played by TBD
 * Dercien Rodel, Knight of the Silver Circle, Principal Secretary to the Empress
 * played by Alex Lord
 * Dame Iliene Dreilo, Director of the Bureau of Statistics
 * played by Imelda Staunton

Historical

 * Sarovia Galarno, Founder of the Empire, first Empress
 * played by Tilda Swinton
 * Orngild Luros-Galarno, Prince-Consort, husband of Sarovia
 * played by Tobias Menzies

Conditions

 * The Foulness
 * Black Fog
 * Plague